HEADQUARTERS

11^th NEW YORK REGIMENT-UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS

 VFW Post 2307, 235 Merrick Road

Lynbrook, New York 11563

S-1 MAJ Denis Munson, 11 NYRGT

MEMORANDUM FOR:  Commanding General   USV

THRU:    G-3 HQ USV Attn:  COL Bill Dofflemyer (11cavlrrp@comcast.net)

                S-3 Attn:  CPT Robert J. Burns (rjburns19@aol.com)

SUBJECT:  AFTER ACTION REPORT: PATRIOTIC EVENT-4 CHAPLAINS MEMORIAL, 04FEB2009 at Baldwin American Legion Post, 1900 hours.

1         SITUATION:

1.  Personnel Present:  MAJ Roger Colena (Bugler, Flag Folder), MAJ Frank Ioppolo, CPT Robert Burns (FPC, Folder/Presenter), CW2 George Schuchman. CSM Salvatore Buccellatto,
2. Participants included Representatives of Nassau County American Legion Council, Officers and enlisted personnel of the United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, Nassau County elected officials, Town of Hempstead Officials, Ministers from the Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, Methodist Churc and a Rabbi;  officers and members of the Baldwin AL Post, Sons of the Baldwin Legion and the Baldwin ladies Auxiliary, approximately 75 in all. Included was a special guest, a USMC veteran of Iraq, who was cited for saving the life of a Baldwin NY citizen who was struck and seriously hurt by a motorist near the LIRR train station.

2.        OBSERVATION:

1. 11NYRGT detail assembled at the Baldwin Post at 1830 hours
2. Weather was extremely cold, 18F
3. As expected, there were a number of logistical challenges posed, some of which were anticipated at a run-through with the MC the previous night.

3.        OPERATIONAL: In Jan 09, S3 was contacted by Steven Bohn, assistant to the Nassau County Veteran Affairs Director and 3^rd VP of the Baldwin American Legion Post with a request to provide an Honor Guard for an Indoor Memorial Service for “The 4 Chaplains”, who aboard the USAT Dorchester, a troop ship carrying 700 soldiers and additional crew to Newfoundland, Feb, 1943, gave up their life vests to soldiers without them, and perished together when inside of 15 minutes the torpedoed vessel sank 150 miles off the Newfoundland Coast. Only 200 survived, picked up by US Coast Guard cutters. The Chaplains were awarded, posthumously, Purple Hearts and the Distinguished Service Cross. The role of the 11NYRGT-USV would be to fire commemorative volleys, play TAPS, and to fold and present a flag to the wife of the lone, living Trooper living on Long Island. This Mission was accepted by 11NYRGT CO and five troopers agreed to participate.

4.        FINDINGS:

1. Due to the complications of an Indoor ceremony and outside weather conditions, a plan was developed to assemble the Honor Guard, inside the Legion Hall(to keep warm and in sight of the participant), March it outdoors to fire volleys(to protect participants), and return for Taps and the Flag Ceremony, which was successfully completed.
2. Due to the weather, the Dorchester representative could not attend, and the USV presented the flag to the Post Commander, who had the public officials lay it upon the Missing Men Table of the Four Chaplains.
3.  The detail was dismissed at 2100 hours.

5.        CONCLUSIONS:  All was satisfactory. The 11NYRGT was presented two (2) Citations for its work in behalf of Veterans and Service to the community and the Nation, by Nassau County legislators Scannell and Denenberg. CPT Burns accepted for the 11NYRGT and COL Reale, CO. Public Relations was excellent, MC Bohn commenting to the assembly, on the professionalism and precision of the 11NYRGT team and the importance of its Mission. He urged the assembled to call 11NYRGT if a deceased veteran cannot receive full honors from the active military. Photos were taken which are likely to appear in local newspapers and literature developed by the Nassau County Veteran Affairs and Legislative Offices. Photo Copies will be forwarded to 11NYRGT. The Detail remained for refreshments at the Post.

6.         MAN HOURS: 12.5

PREPARED BY:                                                                                    Robert J. Burns                                                                                                                                                                    CPT, S-3

 11^th New York Regiment, USV

 rjburns19@aol.com

APPROVED:                                                                             

                                                                                                                Joseph J. Reale

COL, C.O.

                                                                                                                11^th New York Regiment, USV

                                                                                                                ltcreale@optonline.net

DISTRIBUTION:  G-3, HQ, USV COL Bill Dofflemyer (11cavlrrp@comcast.net)

                                  USV COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR, HQ, USV CSM-Vacant

                                  Commanding Officer 11^th NY, Joseph Reale, COL, ltcreale@optonline.net)

                                  S-3 11^th NY, CPT Robert Burns, rjburns19@aol.com

                                 Command Sergeant Major (11^th NY, Salvatore Buccellato, CSM, sbuccel@aol.com)